Diary of a Neighborhood Pharmacist, Entry #8

Here's a discovery: People like drugs.

More than that, they like to buy drugs. Doctors seem to know this from the day they're admitted to medical school. I can see an end-of-the-world scenario when we're all killed off by multi-drug resistant bacteria that evolve as a result of antibiotics prescribed for colds. But it isn't just prescription drugs that people like to buy – there's a certain satisfaction even in OTCs.

One of the best ways to make yourself unpopular is to recommend ice for pain, or tepid baths for an itch, or any over-the-counter remedy that's likely to be in the house already. People come to a pharmacy to buy drugs, and if you suggest that they use acetaminophen, which everybody already has, they get disappointed, as if you've broken a promise to take your children to the zoo.

The second worst thing to do is tell somebody to buy a house brand drug. People who don't ask for advice buy house brands, generics. But people who ask seem to want to be told to buy the stuff they saw on television. I would accommodate them, but I'm out of touch. I'm at work when all the good commercials are on.

There are some critical differences between hospital pharmacy and community practice. In a hospital, it helps to sound academic; in community practice the authoritarian voice is preferred.

Q: Do I have to take this with food?

A (hospital): There haven't' been any good recent studies, and the literature is inconsistent. A review in Drugs, and this dates back to 1976, concluded that corticosteroids are probably non-ulcerogenic, although later reviews indicated that high doses or prolonged use of corticosteroids may indeed increase the risk of gastric ulcers. Interestingly, a 1985 study in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy reported an increased risk of gastric ulceration that was independent of dose. Absent clear evidence of safety, gastroprotection, which may include a bland meal, may be indicated.

A (community): Yes.

See the previous installment, Diary of a Neighborhood Pharmacist, Entry #7, or the next installment, Diary of a Neighborhood Pharmacist, Entry #9.

Discuss This Article

Have something you'd like to say? Tell us what you think! Read and post comments for this article.

Find a Job

Choose your career:

MedHunters is the world's biggest healthcare job board. Our job directory has 18,046 jobs with 2,503 hospitals and other direct employers.

We want you to find your next job on MedHunters. Need Help? Call us at 1-888-884-8242, email us at info@medhunters.com or sign up now.